Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 258,916. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 303,442 [1]. Its county seat is Ocala, Florida.

History
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,307 km² (1,663 mi²). 4,089 km² (1,579 mi²) of it is land and 218 km² (84 mi²) of it (5.06%) is water. It is coterminous with the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Marion County is generally composed of rolling hills, some high and some low. The majority of its trees consist of live oaks, pine, and palm trees. Marion County is considered the southernmost county in North Central Florida, and sometimes the northernmost county in Central Florida.
It is about a two hour drive from many of Florida's major cities, Orlando is 90 minutes to the southeast while Tampa is about 90 minutes to the southwest. Jacksonville is roughly a two hour drive northeast and Daytona Beach is an hour and a half to the east. Miami is about five hours to the southeast as is Fort Lauderdale.
Marion County also has two large lakes at its opposite borders. Orange Lake is in the far northern part of Marion County, near the border with Alachua County. Lake Weir, the larger of the two, is in the far southern region near the border with Lake County.
Marion County is inland, centered between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Because of this, Marion County is not affected as much by hurricanes as the more coastal counties to its east and west are. However, tornadoes are a major threat to this region of the state. Although Marion County is not near either of Florida's coasts, it is situated slightly to the west. Therefore, it takes an hour to get to the Gulf of Mexico while it takes a half an hour longer to get to the Atlantic Ocean.

Location and Terrain

Putnam County, Florida - northeast
Volusia County, Florida - east
Lake County, Florida - southeast
Sumter County, Florida - south
Citrus County, Florida - southwest
Levy County, Florida - west
Alachua County, Florida - northwest Adjacent Counties
As of the census² of 2000, there were 258,916 people, 106,755 households, and 74,621 families residing in the county. The population density was 63/km² (164/mi²). There were 122,663 housing units at an average density of 30/km² (78/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.16% White, 11.55% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 6.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 106,755 households out of which 24.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 24.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,944, and the median income for a family was $37,473. Males had a median income of $28,836 versus $21,855 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,848. About 9.20% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Demographics

Municipalities

City of Belleview
City of Dunnellon
Town of McIntosh
City of Ocala
Town of Reddick Incorporated

Fort McCoy
Marion Oaks
Silver Springs Shores
Salt Springs Unincorporated

Public School System

Anthony Elementary School
Belleview Elementary School
Belleview-Santos Elementary School
College Park Elementary School
Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary (Magnet)
Dunnellon Elementary School
East Marion Elementary School
Eighth Street Elementary School
Emerald Shores Elementary School
Evergreen Elementary School
Fessenden Elementary School
Fort McCoy School (K-8)
Greenway Elementary School
Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School
Harbour View Elementary School
Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (Magnet)
Maplewood Elementary School
Oakcrest Elementary School
Ocala Springs Elementary School
Reddick-Collier Elementary School
Romeo Elementary School
Saddlewood Elementary School
Shady Hill Elementary School
South Ocala Elementary School
Sparr Elementary School
Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School
Sunrise Elementary School
Ward-Highlands Elementary School
Wyomina Park Elementary School Elementary Schools

Belleview Middle School
Dunnellon Middle School
Fort King Middle School Website - www.Fortkingmiddle.org
Howard Middle School
Lake Weir Middle School
North Marion Middle School
Osceola Middle School
West Port Middle School Middle Schools
Marion County Public Schools Homepage

Vanguard High School
Belleview High School
Dunnellon High School*[2]
Forest High School
Lake Weir High School
Marion Technical Institute
North Marion High School
West Port High School High Schools

Government links/Constitutional offices

Marion County School Board
Southwest Florida Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District Judicial branch

Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce
Ocala/Marion Visitors' & Convention Bureau